Althouse: How was it possible for things ever to look like...

July 21, 2009

How was it possible for things ever to look like...

... this:

73 comments:

Fred4Pres said...: You need to do a road trip to Utah.; 7/21/09, 5:23 PM
traditionalguy said...: Makes you appreciate Sarah Palin even more.; 7/21/09, 5:23 PM
Methadras said...: A drag queens wet dream. So spicy.; 7/21/09, 5:31 PM
Bob_R said...: Lilek's daughter is saving pictures of tattoos, piercings, and various hip hop styles to post 35 years from now.; 7/21/09, 5:32 PM
john said...: Thank God that the mother of these children has been found.; 7/21/09, 5:33 PM
former law student said...: Agree with Fred: What do you mean, "Ever"? I can take you to a stylist that turns them out every Saturday AM after the Social Security checks post.; 7/21/09, 5:34 PM
J. Cricket said...: Ah yes! Making fun of other people's looks!! What's next, Annie? Making fun of the disabled?

You are sickeningly arrogant, Althouse.; 7/21/09, 5:41 PM
knox said...: Juris, chill.; 7/21/09, 5:52 PM
dick said...: Anyone who put up with Afros should not talk about this in the least. Also remember the beehive hairdos of those years.; 7/21/09, 5:56 PM
Beth said...: When my partner was growing up, the family's phone number was one digit off from a specialized hair stylist and they often fielded wrong numbers on Saturdays, women looking for the lady who does Pentacost hair-dos. Looks like at least one of her clients got the call right.; 7/21/09, 5:56 PM
Moose said...: Oh my freakin' lord!

You don't remember this? Shit. I do. Graduated from High School in 1976. That era is burned, BURNED into my memory.

Every generation commits fashion sins, but our generation was present for some of the most egregious excesses of polyester and White rain ever recorded.

I feel ill...; 7/21/09, 6:04 PM
Bissage said...: (1) That lady in the photo may not have been much to look at, but man, you should have heard her sing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables!

(2) FURNITURE FUN FACTS, #129: Anitra’s mini-skirts on “The Price is Right” were precisely the reason why all the plush recliner chairs in the 1970s came pre-treated with ScotchGuard™.; 7/21/09, 6:12 PM
Bissage said...: GRRRRRROOOWWWWLLLLL!!!!!!!!; 7/21/09, 6:13 PM
Ron said...: If you leave this at the top of the blog...I'm coming back tomorrow afternoon! ;); 7/21/09, 6:14 PM
William said...: I'm sure that there were harder times and bloodier eras than the seventies. But for pure wanton bad taste and wretched excess in every area of human activity there has never been and never will be an era quite as hideous as the seventies. The good thing was that it was kind of like the Ebola virus: it was so virulent it only killed those infected and did not spread to succeeding eras.; 7/21/09, 6:15 PM
Methadras said...: Juris Dentist said...

Ah yes! Making fun of other people's looks!! What's next, Annie? Making fun of the disabled?

You are sickeningly arrogant, Althouse.

Faux outrage much?; 7/21/09, 6:19 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: Anyone who put up with Afros should not talk about this in the least. Also remember the beehive hairdos of those years.

This is why many of us of a (ahem) certain age.....wore our hair long shining, gleaming, streaming, flaxen, waxen
Give me down to there, hair, shoulder length or longer
Here baby, there, momma, everywhere, daddy, daddy

um ....oh where was I? I got distracted. I graduated in 1968, moved to San Francisco with flowers in my hair, which at that time was down to my waist. No hairspray or polyester for this former hippie dippy chick.

lol @ Bissage....ScotchGuard (snicker); 7/21/09, 6:30 PM
BJM said...: How can you tell if you're a geezer?

You get his closing remark.

I've long been a fan of Lilek's love for mid-century advertising and ephemera of the near past.

His motel set brings back memories of family excursions back in the day when families drove everywhere and The Mother Road carried us to mystical places.

Nothing was more exotic to a ten yr old than sipping frosty fresh squeezed OJ at a Giant Orange with a rattlesnake sideshow. Staying at a Wigwam motel was a close second.

btw- Juris Dentist, making fun of a woman's appearance and the disabled is the nutroot's gig, not Althouse.; 7/21/09, 6:31 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: How was it possible for things ever to look like...

... this:

Don't look now, but those hideous fabrics are making a comeback. /gack; 7/21/09, 6:32 PM
Darcy said...: Aww.; 7/21/09, 6:37 PM
BJM said...: DBQ

Don't look now, but those hideous fabrics are making a comeback. /gack

Gack indeed.; 7/21/09, 6:59 PM
Wince said...: Now that reminds me.

Anitra was one of the women who awakened my libedo.; 7/21/09, 7:00 PM
mariner said...: Pharmaceuticals and special mirrors?; 7/21/09, 7:15 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: If you guys think there's been such a vast improvement over the years, you're not paying attention. It may be even worse, now that men are in on it.

Why do you think I'm always going off about The Macho Response?; 7/21/09, 7:16 PM
Baron Zemo said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/21/09, 7:19 PM
Trooper York said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/21/09, 7:23 PM
Baron Zemo said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/21/09, 7:25 PM
Rialby said...: You will find a completely different look in women of that age today. You rarely see people with buck teeth anymore - they were everywhere especially for a woman born in the 20s (as the woman pictured was). As Lileks mentioned in another "The New Price is Right" post - many of these people were born and raised during the Depression.

The other thing you'll rarely see is women that dressed up to go on television. I bet most days the "Price is Right" has on women and men in sweat pants and t-shirts. Even the wealthy dress like slobs now.

This woman was clearly making an effort. She had her hair done, her most fashionable dress on. Look at Lileks' screenshots - there are people with ties on! For a game show! We can laugh at the hair, the colors, the styles but are we truly better off?; 7/21/09, 7:34 PM
Penny said...: Come on down, Trooper York!

This post is for YOU!; 7/21/09, 7:42 PM
john said...: Trooper -
you wanted to,
you started to,
you got scared,
you erased it.

Don't be.; 7/21/09, 7:51 PM
Brent said...: Yep - 70's hair fashions were bad alright.

But please - do I need to start on hair from the 80's? And all when MTV started.; 7/21/09, 7:51 PM
The Dude said...: If she is being mocked for her appearance she must be Republican, therefore, not a woman.; 7/21/09, 7:54 PM
rhhardin said...: I have some nice Hawaiian shirts from the 70s (J.C.Penny, Honolulu) in the closet, waiting for some further occasion requiring formal wear.

There is still some daylight, so there's nothing to prevent a picture of these fine items.; 7/21/09, 7:56 PM
The Dude said...: Dude - those are awesome shirts - much better than most of the ones available now.; 7/21/09, 7:59 PM
Marylou said...: Okay, wasn't there another thread awhile back featuring a picture of party with beautiful women and where the men all had on Hawaiian style shirts? Those shirts would be perfect for that party!; 7/21/09, 8:05 PM
Curtiss said...: This post has been removed by the author.; 7/21/09, 8:14 PM
Moose said...: Hey,Hey, HEY folks - don't get me wrong.

Anitra rubbing appliances laciviously certainly made the 70's easier than they could have been otherwise, but really. It only went so far...; 7/21/09, 8:15 PM
RLB_IV said...: The middle aged lady was on vacation from Madison, Wisconsin and she wanted to look her best for television.; 7/21/09, 8:25 PM
TitusHelloIJustGotARaise said...: My mom had her hair like that. I was born in 1970 and I remember when I was young drawing pictures of her with big huge S's to symbolize her hair.

It is my birthday today.

Oh and how Obama lost me:

1)wearing that outfit when he was "pitching.

thank you.

I also didn't know Delaware was so redneck.; 7/21/09, 8:29 PM
TitusHelloIJustGotARaise said...: And...

"I want my COUNTRY BACK, now!!!!!"; 7/21/09, 8:30 PM
TitusHelloIJustGotARaise said...: I received a $25,000 raise today. They did a market survey of my position and I was being underpaid.

Yea, I make quite a bit of money for my age. I could consult or contract and make close to double though which is always nice. No benefits but I could pay for the COBRA payments in one day of work.

Also, the people in my loft building are fabulous:

1) Doctor and Lawyer-both graduates of Harvard

2) Consultant-graduate of Harvard Business School and George W. Bush's personal assistant for 8 years

3) Harvard Law grad and Real Estate Broker-fags

4) Harvard Medical School grad and Harvard MPH graduate

5) MIT Phd student who is in Japan for the summer. His website is "Observing Japan".

6) Biogen Idec Scientist

7) Gene Robinson protege and now new priest and BU professor-fags

8) Doctor-Dyke

9) One subsidized couple which is required for every building with over ten units-gross. And they are jews, whats up with that?

10) And me on the penthouse.

Cars in the parking lot:

BMW, Volvo, Saab, Prius, Jeep Cherokee with EX US plates-Bushs Butt boy, Subarbu Outback-dyke, natch, Audi A4, Mercedes, BMW SUV and some domestic piece of shit from the subsidized things-thanks for bringing all of our stock down.; 7/21/09, 8:40 PM
TitusHelloIJustGotARaise said...: My Observing Japan neighbor has a Newsweek blog written in Japanese. He has also been on CSNBC.

How fabulous is that?

Tell me about your neighbors?

Are they as fabulous? Not that it matters because people are people. But it is a good feeling to be surrounded by other fabulousness.; 7/21/09, 8:45 PM
TitusHelloIJustGotARaise said...: Oh the fag lawyer was also number one in his class at Exeter and Georgetown undergrad.

Do you all want to see a picy wicy of my place?; 7/21/09, 8:48 PM
Steve M. Galbraith said...: The show really took off when Dian Parkinson came on.

Hmm...

I remember running home from junior high just to watch the last 5 minutes where she'd always appear in the bathing suit. Didn't matter what the final item was - refrigerator, car, heavy machinery - she'd be in that suit.

Geez, it was torture..; 7/21/09, 9:07 PM
traditionalguy said...: Titus ... we need to see a picture of the dog. Show your pad too if it is decorated fabulously.; 7/21/09, 9:44 PM
Anonymous said...: Women's hair? I can remember the Good Old Days when women still had hair ... no, I don't mean the head variety.

But hey, maybe miracles will happen and the hideous pedophilic Bald Eagle will fall out of fashion. We can only hope.

Peter; 7/21/09, 9:47 PM
MadisonMan said...: Janice was much better than Anitra.; 7/21/09, 9:52 PM
RLB_IV said...: Good for you Titus,your rags to riches story is an example to all in America. Bless you, fellow republican, may you receive another $ 25,000 in December.; 7/21/09, 9:54 PM
TitusHelloIJustGotARaise said...: Currently I am very into Martha Graham's production of Appalachian Spring.

It is truely the story of the pioneering woman and I absolutely love it.; 7/21/09, 9:55 PM
J Lee said...: Hey, not everyone can have perfect hair like Bob Barker.; 7/21/09, 10:00 PM
Anonymous said...: It's gonna take more than that to get me to ignore

Anitra

Ford.; 7/21/09, 10:15 PM
Penny said...: Funny, Peter, until you really think about it for too long.; 7/21/09, 10:24 PM
Ralph L said...: number one in his class at Exeter and Georgetown undergrad
He told you this, or did you hire a detective?

It's nice to get a raise without having to ask for one.; 7/21/09, 10:53 PM
Kevin Walsh said...: They'll be horrified at hairdo's and fashions of the 2000's in 30 years. Sure thing.

www.forgotten-ny.com; 7/21/09, 11:02 PM
KCFleming said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 7/21/09, 11:41 PM
KCFleming said...: Why's everyone making fun of my mom?; 7/21/09, 11:41 PM
KCFleming said...: She won a brand new set of jell-o molds, I'll have you know.; 7/21/09, 11:43 PM
Donna B. said...: I want to tell Titus about my neighbors. I hope he appreciates this and understands how dull and impoverished his life is.

First of all, we live on a dead-end street which is about as close as suburbia can get to a high-rise with a penthouse.

While I really hate admitting it, it's quite possible we're the subsidized folks. We do have the oldest cars on the street. And the most. In our defense, all but one actually run and we keep them in the back yard, mostly out of sight.

To the west of us is a nice elderly couple who are, unfortunately, crazy. The husband is also deaf which actually makes his know-it-all attitude bearable because he can't hear us telling him to fuck off.

To the east of us is a retired GM union auto dude. He's got lots of money and spends it on pigeons and bats. Bats eat mosquitoes and the mosquitoes bother his pigeons so it all makes sense.

Across the street to the east is the vacant house. It's been vacant for 5 years now. The guy's 3rd wife and her 4 teenage sons left him and moved to California. We don't miss the music, but we'd rather not be having dead rotten trees fall on power lines.

Across the street to the east is the unfriendly house. Twenty years ago they did not invite my 3rd grade daughter to their 3rd grade daughter's birthday party. May tree roots bust their sewer line.

Directly across the street is the neighbor we can trust. It's his garage everyone goes to on Sunday mornings with a beer in their hand, worshiping the grumble and growl of his big Harley.

Hey, it sounds helluva lot better than a leaf blower!

Just last week we all got a postcard notifying us that the guy who lives at the end of the street is a convicted child molester. We're all relieved we didn't know this about him when our children were still living at home.

To the east just a tad bit more and across the street is The House Of The Barking Dogs. I love the guys who live there, but they are the exception to the rumor that gays are neat and fastidious. Of course, with 15 dogs, who could be?

Two houses to the west is the home of Mr. Friendly. He observes and decorates elaborately for every holiday for the enjoyment of God knows how many grandchildren with well-developed vocal cords. His Indian name is Man Who Borrows. He owns no tools of his own, but he is dearly beloved because he is also known as He Who Returns Borrowed Shit When He Needs A Favor.

Even farther to the east is The Contractor. He's the guy who reports every homeowner on the street for code/permit violations if they don't hire him to do whatever is being done.

One of my favorite neighbors lives across the street from The Contractor. Her driver's licence should have been taken away from her years ago, but as long as she can afford to buy us all new mailboxes once a year, we're not complaining.

Titus, I know you will envy me because of where I live... but don't feel too bad, OK?; 7/22/09, 2:45 AM
AllenS said...: AllenS said...
"Jeremy and Titus, two shit eaters, have taken a vacation. When they come back, and they will come back, they'll come back at the same time."

7/21/09 3:51 PM

And they have.; 7/22/09, 3:28 AM
Deb said...: Donna B.: sounds like we could be neighbors. The best home in my neighborhood belongs to a Hispanic family. It's a very new, brick 2-story with an immaculately landscaped yard.

This post is relevant because this neighborhood was built in the
1970's and I've got the faux panelling to prove it.; 7/22/09, 3:32 AM
Scott M said...: I was on the air in Augusta GA for a couple of years and got introduced to the "gypsies". If anyone is familiar with the Eddie Izzard show...it's nothing like that.

I would see them most often at the movie theater on weekend days. There would always be a large group of them and the men were always separated from the women and kids. Always.

The men wore different takes on the same theme...khakis, loafers, and a short-sleeved button-up dress shirt. Male kids were the same.

The women, though...WHOA. Cut right out of some Bizaro sixties idealized version of June Cleaver, I kid you not. Tall, stacked hair, beaded necklaces, always in heels, always with a skirt or polyester capris.

Aside from the obvious social wierdness, they were notorious for shopping (shop lifting) in large groups. Absolutely bizarre.; 7/22/09, 7:33 AM
kjbe said...: My first thought was 'Chicken Run'. Anyway, it all seems kind of sweet, really. They'll be looking a pics of us in 40 years and be guffawing, too. I can't wait...; 7/22/09, 8:05 AM
save_the_rustbelt said...: Just don't be pickin on Tammy Wynette.

White collar women can be especially bitchy toward women from blue collar households - give it a rest.; 7/22/09, 8:15 AM
TitusHelloIJustGotARaise said...: Donna B, your hood is fascinating. Very interesting.

Let's hear about everyone's hood.; 7/22/09, 9:14 AM
TitusHelloIJustGotARaise said...: That woman does look like a chicken and reminds me of the Mel Gibson cartoon about chickens. Is that Chicken Run?

I have never done a chicken.; 7/22/09, 9:15 AM
ricpic said...: I don't see what's so terrible about a slight overbite.; 7/22/09, 9:17 AM
former law student said...: I don't see what's so terrible about a slight overbite.

Neither does Jerri Blank:

http://www.mtv.com/movies/photos/s/strangers_with_candy_060210/1.jpg; 7/22/09, 9:40 AM
TitusHelloIJustGotARaise said...: I love Jerri Blank, love Strangers With Candy and love Amy Sedaris.

Not as much as I love Appalachin Spring now or as it was orignally called A Ballet For Martha. Absolutely delish. The story of frontier women making their way through the tough and gritty 1800's. Copland was a fag. You can tell when you listen to Billy The Kid-very western, as in gay western attire.; 7/22/09, 9:52 AM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: I don't see what's so terrible about a slight overbite.

Me either. She could open beer bottles with her teeth. Very useful since we didn't have easy open bottle caps then.

I do miss the pop top tabs from those times. They made great hanging door screens and you could impress your friends with the size of your pop top art.; 7/22/09, 9:54 AM
Ann Althouse said...: So Baron Zemo is... .... and an asshole. Lame!; 7/22/09, 1:14 PM
srfwotb said...: That's just a variation of Thatcher hair. To be fair she doesn't look as bad in the other pics.; 7/22/09, 1:49 PM
Methadras said...: TitusHelloIJustGotARaise said...

Do you all want to see a picy wicy of my place?

What's with all the baby fag talk. Can't you be just a regular scat pushing fag like you want everyone else to be?; 7/23/09, 1:23 AM
The Dude said...: Infantilism is a big part of his mental makeup, such as it is. A fascination with his feces, a need to fondle his mother's breasts every time he sees her, baby talk, inability to form attachments. That is one sick fuck.

But thanks for the "May I push your stool in" blast. Nothing better than old jokes. Which Steve is quickly becoming.

Raging old scat queens are a sorry, boastful lot, that's for sure. Thank goodness for retroviruses.; 7/23/09, 6:38 AM